-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The fourteenth suspicious fire in a month 's time hit a small community near Philadelphia before dawn Sunday .

A huge fire spread through more than a dozen homes Sunday outside Philadelphia , authorities said .

The seven-alarm fire in Coatesville , Pennsylvania , damaged more than a dozen homes and caused nearly $ 2 million in damage , according to city spokeswoman Kristin Geiger .

No residents were injured , she said .

It took 150 firefighters three hours to bring the blaze under control , and one firefighter broke his ankle , CNN affiliate WPVI reported . Watch a town fearful of what 's next ''

Authorities in the city announced a state of emergency on Sunday . In a statement , Coatesville City Manager Harry Walker said the declaration would allow him to `` promulgate whatever special rules and regulations necessary to protect '' citizens .

It would also let him request assistance from other municipalities and `` enter into contracts , employ temporary personnel , rent equipment , purchase supplies without regard to the normal procedures and formalities prescribed by law , '' Walker wrote .

Authorities have been imploring residents to remove anything flammable from outside their homes -- including porch furniture and trash .

Standing outside the latest blaze early Sunday , resident Janet Jackson said it had broken out just behind her house .

`` I woke up and everything was in flames , '' she said , adding , `` It 's really scary . ... I mean we 're all afraid to even be in our houses right now . ''

Francis Dorsheimer said he had just arrived home when his family told him they needed to leave right away because a neighbor 's house was on fire .

He ran outside and saw flames `` shooting off the roof . ''

`` Must have been like 15-foot flames or higher , '' he said . `` It was just unbelievable . All the smoke in the air -- you could hardly breathe . '' Watch the flames eat away at homes ''

Beverly Rivera watched firefighters put out the blaze at the home that she had recently moved out of . She still had possessions inside .

`` Whoever 's doing this , this is just absolutely ludicrous , '' she said .

Referring to suggestions that the fires may be the result of gang activity , Rivera said , `` If it 's a gang , please stop , and find something else to do . Because this is , this is terrible . This is absolutely unreal . ''

`` I never thought Coatesville would be on the map for something like this , '' she added . `` It 's just awful . Just awful . ''

Thirteen previous suspected arsons have occurred since the start of the year in Coatesville . Fifteen suspected arsons happened in 2008 -- including one that killed an 83-year-old woman , Geiger said .

The fires do not appear to follow a clear pattern , she said .

Three suspects were arrested in December , and confessed to some of the fires , said Geiger . The suspects -- two adults and one juvenile -- are still in custody , she said .

A $ 5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to whomever has been setting the latest fires .

Federal officials have joined the investigation , WPVI reported .

Two homes were first spotted in flames at 11:30 p.m. . The blazes spread and burned 15 homes , causing damage estimated at about $ 120,000 per home or a total of $ 1.8 million .

City officials expect a huge turnout at a city council meeting Monday when the fires will be discussed .

Coatesville , about 45 miles west of Philadelphia , has about 11,000 residents , according to the U.S. Census Bureau .

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NEW : Authorities in Coatesville , Pennsylvania , declare state of emergency

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Since start of year , 14 suspicious fires have happened in a town near Philadelphia

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WPVI : Federal investigators are now part of a probe into the possible arsons

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No residents were injured in a fire Sunday that damaged 15 homes , authorities said